MISSOULA – Two fatalities occurred in a head-on collision on I-90 Saturday night when one vehicle was traveling the wrong way.
The crash happened around 10:36 p.m. when a vehicle heading east in the westbound lanes collided with a westbound vehicle in the left lane, according to the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP).
A 23-year-old man driving a Hyundai Veloster went the wrong way and died at the scene. The second driver, a 26-year-old woman from Arlee operating a Mazda 6, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
The impact caused the Mazda to rotate and come to rest on the shoulder, while the Hyundai overturned in the median, ejecting its driver, who was not wearing a seat belt. The Hyundai subsequently caught fire.
Authorities suspect alcohol may have been a contributing factor. The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office reported that westbound traffic was diverted from Airway Boulevard to the Wye on I-90 until approximately 2 a.m.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.